US envoy reminds RP gov’t of value of VFA By Michaela P. del Callar 07/02/2010

US envoy reminds RP gov’t of value of VFA

By Michaela P. del Callar 07/02/2010 The United States envoy to the Philippines yesterday called on the government to “live up to its treaty obligations” with Washington amid calls for the abrogation of a bilateral military agreement that allows the entry of American forces to the country. US Ambassador Harry Thomas said the Philippines as a sovereign nation has the right to conduct a review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), but stressed that it is “extremely important” that both countries have a military exchange program. Despite strong resistance by militant groups and several lawmakers to US presence in the country, Thomas said Washington remains committed to assisting the cash-strapped Philippine military to eradicate terrorism and radical extremism, and provide aid when needed in times of natural calamities. “The most important thing about the VFA is, it allowed us last year to quickly bring in the US military to assist in the typhoons, to feed, house, clothe people who were desperate. Without the VFA, it would have been much more difficult to bring in that aid so quickly,” Thomas told ANC News.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100702hed6.html

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